TAITA TAVETA

Taita-Taveta County is a county of Kenya. It lies approximately 200 km northwest of Mombasa and 360 km southeast of Nairobi.

The capital is Mwatate even though it is the third-largest town in the county after Voi, Wundanyi and Taveta in that order.

The population of the county 30 years ago was approximately 45,000 persons but this has shot up to well over 250,000 persons with population densities ranging from 3 persons per km2. to more than 800 persons per km2. This is due to the varied rainfall and terrain with the lower zones receiving an average 440 mm of rain per annum and the highland areas receiving up to 1900 mm of rain. The range rises in altitude from 500 m above sea level to almost 2,300 a.s.a at vuria peak which is the highest.

In 2007, the Taita-Taveta District was split into two districts: the Taita District and the Taveta District. The two were subsequently re-united to form Taita-Taveta County.